Bay Area residents can expect a mix of fog, sun, and potential thunderstorms rolling in this week. Commuters were greeted this morning by a dense fog advisory, which was effective through 10 AM. The advisory reduced visibility significantly along the Monterey Bay Coast and San Francisco Peninsula Coast. According to the National Weather Service, the advisory pinpoints "less than one half mile at times," posing hazards for both navigation and driving conditions.
Looking beyond this morning's fog, skies should begin to clear up with temperatures slated "to peak around their seasonal average," said the Area Forecast Discussion from the National Weather Service. Today, we will watch high temperatures soar about "5 to 15 degrees above normal." That means widespread 70s across the Bay, with some interior areas expected to reach the low 80s. However, a pattern shift is set to usher in cooler days heading into Tuesday. It's forecasted that we'll start to see a downturn in temperatures for the mid to late week, while the weekend is projected to warm up once again.
Despite the teaser of a cool-down, there's a tentative buzz around the potential for mid-week thunderstorms. The National Weather Service acknowledged "a general risk of thunder" gripping parts of the southern Coastal Range. However, the forecasters are holding off on cementing the thunder into our local forecast until the models present a more unified front. Meanwhile, residents are expected to have a standard marine influence at the coast, which is obvious with low clouds and fog lingering in the area.
Looking towards the aviation landscape, the Area Forecast Discussion indicates "increasing cloudiness along the coast areas this morning," which might result in localized IFR/LIFR cigs and dense fog. Furthermore, the evening forecast anticipates increased cloud cover due to a weak upper-level system moving through. Pilots and airlines may have to watch out for shifting conditions across the coastal and Bay Area terminals tonight.
The seven-day outlook posted on the National Weather Service website paints a steadier picture for ground dwellers, with today's high near 73 giving way to increasing clouds by nightfall. The high dips to about 65 on Tuesday, with mostly cloudy evenings ahead and temperatures hovering in the low to mid-60s until Friday. A sunny forecast returns for the weekend, with temperatures pushing back towards the 70s.
